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“This is something we take very seriously. We have called on our fellow government agencies to work collaboratively and make tourist safety, particularly for South Koreans and all international visitors, a top priority,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said in a statement cited by the Philippine News Agency.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission has proposed enhanced tourist protection initiatives, including deploying Korean-speaking police officers and establishing more tourist assistance desks, according to The Philippine Star newspaper.

Frasco also called on the police to increase its presence in areas frequented by South Korean visitors.

These moves came after a series of murders targeting Korean travelers raised safety concerns in the Philippines, named “Asia’s Leading Beach Destination” at the 2024 World Travel Awards.

In March, a South Korean man was shot and killed by two robbers in Manila.

In April, another South Korean tourist was fatally shot during a robbery in Angeles City.

A South Korean tourist was last month kidnapped by a group of armed men in the Philippines, but was later rescued by Filipino police, who also arrested two Chinese kidnappers.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry has advised its citizens to avoid poorly lit or deserted areas at night and to use safe transportation methods, such as registered taxis while visiting the country.

Following the series of violent incidents, the number of South Korean visitors to the Philippines dropped by 35% in April,

South Korea was the Philippines’ largest source of inbound visitors in 2024, contributing approximately US$2.3 billion to the national economy.